What is the DAT?
The DAT is a computer-based exam administered year-round. The DAT is designed to measure general academic
ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability.
How many times can I take the DAT? Is it expensive?
Candidates may retake the test up to three times, waiting at least 90 days to retake the DAT. A new application
and fee are required for each retest. Examinees who have three or more testing attempts must apply for
permission to retest.
The DAT fee is $360. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. The fee includes official score reporting to
your selected dental schools; an unofficial, personal copy of scores issued at the testing center; and score
reporting to the pre-dental advisor (if selected on your application). Your four most recent test scores will be sent
to selected dental schools, thus retaking the test may or may not be to your advantage. For additional information,
check out http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx.
Where do I take the test?
The DAT is administered by Prometric, Inc. at Prometric Test Centers. If your application is approved, you will
receive an e-mail (or letter if no e-mail address is on file) informing you to visit www.prometric.com or call the
Prometric Contact Center at 800.688.5804 to schedule a testing appointment. The Prometric Contact Center will
schedule you for testing at one of the Prometric Test Centers. However, the Prometric Contact Center will not
schedule an examinee before receiving authorization from the DTS. A list of test centers can be found at
www.prometric.com. Individual local test centers cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments.
What can I expect to see on the DAT?
The test consists of 280 multiple-choice items distributed across a battery of four tests: the Survey of the
Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability Test, Reading Comprehension Test, and Quantitative Reasoning Test.
The Survey of the Natural Sciences (90 minutes) consists of:
 Biology (40 items)
 General Chemistry (30 items)
 Organic Chemistry (30 items)
The Perceptual Ability Test (60 minutes) is comprised of six subtests:
 apertures (15 items)
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 orthographic projections (15 items)
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 angle discrimination (15 items)
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The Reading Comprehension Test (60 minutes) consists of:
 three reading passages (50 items)
The Quantitative Reasoning Test (45 minutes) consists of:
 word problems (10 items)
 computation problems (30 items)
paper folding items (15 items)
cube-counting items (15 items)
spatial form development items (15 items)
www.ada.org/dat
How is the DAT scored?
Test scores range from 1 - 30; 17 is considered the average national performance.
When are scores available?
Immediately upon completing the DAT you will receive an unofficial score report at the Prometric Test Center. In
the unofficial score report, scale scores and corresponding percentiles are reported. The percentile corresponding
to your score tells you how well you performed in relation to other examinees. For example, a score in the 75th
percentile is a score that is equal to or better than the score of 75 percent of all DAT examinees. This unofficial
report is audited for accuracy before official reporting of scores. This report is your personal copy. No other score
report will be sent to you. Official scores will be available approximately three to four weeks after your testing
appointment.
How do I prepare for the DAT?
The best preparation for the DAT is "years of academic preparation" according to the American Dental Association.
However, you are encouraged to review sample test questions, available in the application, to familiarize yourself
with testing format and procedures. The DAT preparation materials contain samples of the four tests used in the
DAT and are available at www.ADA.org. These materials are available at no charge to examinees as a means of
discovering possible areas of weakness in comprehension of subjects covered on the test. They also enable
examinees to become familiar with the types of materials included in the test, as well as the general format of the
various parts of the test battery. The DAT program also offers a complete online and paper DAT Practice Test to
help you prepare.
What are some good study strategies and test-taking tips?
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Practice test questions under timed conditions so that you can acclimate to the pace of the test.
Review the testing policies and understand how the computer-based test works.
Take a free Practice Exam! Sign up at the Office of Career Services each semester.
Do not spend too much time on any one question.
Leave no question unanswered. Nothing is subtracted from your score if you answer a question
incorrectly, so give it your best shot!
Get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before arriving at the test center.
Rollins Center for Career & Life Planning
170 W. Fairbanks Avenue. 1st Floor
Winter Park, FL 32789
407.646.2195
Rollins.edu/careercenter
www.ada.org/dat